DoD's $9.19M DSOP IRON BANK contract awarded to Metronome, LLC for custom computer programming

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $9,185,255 ($9.2M)

Contractor: Metronome, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-01-03

End Date: 2026-04-02

Contract Duration: 1,185 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: DSOP IRON BANK - TEAM 1

Place of Performance

Location: SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR County, TEXAS, 78243

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $9.2 million to METRONOME, LLC for work described as: DSOP IRON BANK - TEAM 1 Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable given the scope of custom programming services. 2. Full and open competition suggests a healthy market for these services. 3. Potential risks include performance deviations and schedule slippage common in custom development. 4. This contract supports the Air Force's IT modernization efforts. 5. The firm-fixed-price structure shifts some risk to the contractor. 6. The contract duration of nearly three years allows for substantial development.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $9.19 million for custom computer programming services over approximately three years appears to be within a reasonable range for this type of work. Benchmarking against similar custom software development contracts, especially those involving complex IT systems for defense agencies, suggests that the pricing is competitive. The firm-fixed-price contract type further indicates that the government has secured a defined cost for the services, although the ultimate value depends on the successful delivery of the specified requirements.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors were eligible to bid. The presence of 9 bidders suggests a robust competitive environment for this type of IT service. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions as contractors vie for the award.

Taxpayer Impact: The extensive competition for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers, as it likely drove down prices and ensured the government received competitive offers for the custom programming services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Department of the Air Force, which will receive custom computer programming services. The services delivered will likely enhance or develop specific IT capabilities for defense operations. The contract is geographically focused on Texas, where the contractor is located. The contract may have implications for the IT workforce, potentially creating or sustaining jobs in custom software development.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Risk of contractor performance issues impacting critical defense IT systems.
Dependency on a single contractor for specialized custom development.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Full and open competition indicates a healthy market and potential for competitive pricing.
Contract duration allows for thorough development and integration of services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically custom computer programming services. The federal IT market is substantial, with significant spending allocated to software development, maintenance, and modernization. This contract represents a portion of the Department of Defense's broader IT investment strategy, aiming to acquire tailored solutions to meet unique operational requirements. Comparable spending benchmarks for custom software development contracts of this size and scope within the federal government would typically range from several million to tens of millions of dollars.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the contractor, Metronome, LLC, is not explicitly identified as a small business in this context. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a small business set-aside. The absence of a small business set-aside means that larger, more established firms were likely the primary participants in the competition.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will be managed by the Department of the Air Force, likely through contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm-fixed-price contract terms, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed-upon cost. Transparency is facilitated by the public award data, though detailed performance metrics and internal oversight processes are typically not publicly disclosed. Inspector General jurisdiction may apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) IT Services
Air Force Cloud Computing Services
Custom Software Development Contracts
Federal IT Modernization Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for schedule delays
Risk of scope creep
Contractor performance uncertainty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $9.2 million to METRONOME, LLC. DSOP IRON BANK - TEAM 1

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is METRONOME, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $9.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-01-03. End: 2026-04-02.

What is the track record of Metronome, LLC in performing similar custom computer programming services for the Department of Defense?

Assessing the track record of Metronome, LLC requires a review of their past performance on federal contracts, particularly those with the Department of Defense or other agencies requiring similar custom computer programming. This would involve examining contract award histories, past performance evaluations (if publicly available), and any documented instances of successful project completion or challenges. Without specific past performance data for Metronome, LLC on comparable projects, it is difficult to definitively assess their capability to execute this specific contract successfully. However, the award under full and open competition with multiple bidders suggests that the agency performed some level of due diligence on potential awardees.

How does the awarded price of $9.19 million compare to market rates for similar custom programming services?

The awarded price of $9.19 million for custom computer programming services over approximately three years needs to be benchmarked against market rates for similar work. Factors influencing market rates include the complexity of the software, the required skill sets (e.g., cybersecurity, AI, specific programming languages), the geographic location of the contractor, and the level of security clearance required. Given that this is a Department of Defense contract, which often involves complex requirements and security protocols, the price may be within the expected range. A detailed comparison would involve analyzing the specific tasks outlined in the contract statement of work against industry pricing models for custom software development.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

The primary risks associated with this custom computer programming contract include potential scope creep, where project requirements expand beyond the initial agreement, leading to cost overruns or schedule delays. Another significant risk is contractor performance failure, where Metronome, LLC may not deliver the software to the required specifications or quality standards. Schedule slippage is also a common risk in complex software development projects. Mitigation strategies include a well-defined statement of work, clear performance metrics, regular progress reviews, and the firm-fixed-price contract structure, which incentivizes the contractor to manage costs and schedules effectively. The Department of the Air Force's oversight and quality assurance processes are also crucial for risk mitigation.

How effective is the firm-fixed-price contract type in ensuring value for money for this specific IT service?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type is generally considered effective in ensuring value for money for IT services when the scope of work is well-defined and unlikely to change significantly. For custom computer programming, FFP shifts the risk of cost overruns to the contractor, incentivizing them to manage resources efficiently and adhere to the budget. This provides cost certainty for the government. However, if the requirements are inherently uncertain or prone to change, an FFP contract could lead to the contractor either overpricing the bid to account for potential risks or delivering a product that meets the minimum requirements rather than the optimal solution. In this case, the Air Force's ability to clearly define the programming needs is key to realizing value from the FFP structure.

What is the historical spending pattern for custom computer programming services by the Department of the Air Force?

Historical spending patterns for custom computer programming services by the Department of the Air Force (and the DoD broadly) show a consistent and significant investment in acquiring tailored software solutions. Agencies like the Air Force frequently procure custom development to meet unique operational, intelligence, or logistical requirements that off-the-shelf software cannot address. Spending in this category can fluctuate based on modernization initiatives, emerging threats, and technological advancements. Analyzing past spending data would reveal trends in contract values, types of services procured (e.g., application development, system integration, legacy system modernization), and the primary contractors involved. This specific $9.19 million contract aligns with the typical scale of such investments.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: TWO STEP

Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Metronome LLC

Address: 11216 WAPLES MILL ROAD, SUITE 105, FAIRFAX, VA, 22030

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,699,482

Exercised Options: $9,699,482

Current Obligation: $9,185,255

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA830721G0014

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline